- Enrollment
- 1,027
- Students per teacher
- 28.5:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Palmdale, CA
Buena Vista Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Buena Vista Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 29/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 062958009606
👥 S:T ratio 15
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 3
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Buena Vista Elementary earns 29/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median.
- #15 of 31
- elementary schools in Palmdale · Resource Index
- 29
- Resource Index · Lower
- 21.2:1
- students per teacher
- 71.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Buena Vista Elementary has class sizes near the California median. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Buena Vista Elementary ranks #15 of 31 elementary schools in Palmdale, CA.
School address
District: Palmdale Elementary · California
NCES ID 062958009606 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+0 students YoY
Buena Vista Elementary held near 574 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+0 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 27.3 → 26.7 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+0 students YoY 062958009606 · Palmdale, CA Elementary · MID · TRAD
573 enr · 21.2:1 · 71.3% lunch · RII 29
Nearest enrollment peer: Los Amigos - Dual Immersion (1,027 students)
Buena Vista Elementary held near 574 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+0 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 27.3 → 26.7 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Buena Vista Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Los Amigos - D
Los Amigos - Dual Immersion
1,027 students
- Palmdale Acade
Palmdale Academy Charter
989 students
- David G. Mille
David G. Millen Law and Government Magnet Academy
952 students
- Desert Willow
Desert Willow Fine Arts Sci and Tech Magnet Acad
948 students
- Dos Caminos Du
Dos Caminos Dual Immersion
945 students
- This school
Buena Vista Elementary
573 students
What this shows Buena Vista Elementary reports 573 students on the CCD universe file.
How Buena Vista Elementary compares
Buena Vista Elementary held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 21.2:1 | ▼ 1% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 71.3% | ▲ 28% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 573 | top 35% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
21.2:1
Leaner classes than 12% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
573
Bigger than 70% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
71.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 28% above the California average of 55.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
21.2:1
students per teacher
- 1% below state mean
Top 45% in California - lower ratio than 55% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
38.7%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$17,861
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $18,665
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 29 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 79.4%
African American 12.4%
White 5.1%
Two or More 1.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.9%
Asian 0.5%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 79.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 35.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 35.1, Buena Vista Elementary is less mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Palmdale Elementary reports $17,861 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Buena Vista Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Amigos - Dual Immersion | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Palmdale Academy Charter | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| David G. Millen Law and Government Magnet Academy | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Desert Willow Fine Arts Sci and Tech Magnet Acad | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Dos Caminos Dual Immersion | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Buena Vista Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 989
- Students per teacher
- 39.6:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 952
- Students per teacher
- 22.1:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 948
- Students per teacher
- 21.5:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 945
- Students per teacher
- 27:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
Similar elementary schools in Palmdale
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Los Amigos - Dual Immersion
Alternative education program
1,027 students 28.5:1 students per teacher
Esperanza Elementary
Standard public school
962 students 26.7:1 students per teacher
Dos Caminos Dual Immersion
Alternative education program
945 students 27:1 students per teacher
Gregg Anderson Academy
Standard public school
893 students 27.9:1 students per teacher
Rancho Vista Elementary
Standard public school
886 students 26.8:1 students per teacher
Palmdale Learning Plaza
Standard public school
800 students 22.9:1 students per teacher
Nationwide elementary schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~573 students)
Frequently asked questions about Buena Vista Elementary
How many students attend Buena Vista Elementary?
Buena Vista Elementary has 573 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Palmdale, CA. CCD year-over-year: 574 (2022-23) → 574 (2023-24), nearly flat (+0).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Buena Vista Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Buena Vista Elementary is 21.2:1, which is 1% lower than the California average of 21.5:1 and 35% higher than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Buena Vista Elementary?
71.3% of students at Buena Vista Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Buena Vista Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Buena Vista Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 79.4% of enrollment, in Palmdale, CA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Buena Vista Elementary?
Buena Vista Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 29/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Buena Vista Elementary rank among elementary schools in Palmdale?
By Resource Investment Index, Buena Vista Elementary ranks #15 of 31 elementary schools in Palmdale, CA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Palmdale on the city page.
What other schools are in Palmdale Elementary?
Besides Buena Vista Elementary, Palmdale Elementary also operates Los Amigos - Dual Immersion (1,027 students), Palmdale Academy Charter (989 students), and David G. Millen Law and Government Magnet Academy (952 students). See the Palmdale Elementary district page for the complete list.